Fuse



Jan. 18, 1944. c. s. GIBBONS 2,339,261

FUSE

Filed Jan. 14, 1943 [Sharks G .B'1hhuns 55% aim-warm Patented Jan. 18,1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orries FUSE Charles G. Gibbons, Cambridge,Mass. Application January14, 1943, Serial No. 472,309 seams. (01.10240)(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

1 amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757)- The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes without thepayment tome of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a delayed action fuse. Its operation asdesigned depends u on the use of a catalyst or other substance whichbecomes sufflciently heated in the presence of a suitable gas to ignitethe primer charge, which in turn ignites thebooster charge for explodingthe main charge.

Among the objects of the invention are the production of a fuse havingfew parts, and one inexpensive to make, and reliablein operation, safeto handle and one whose delayed action, after impact may be convenientlyregulated or controlled by such changes in proportion of the chemicaland other materials upon which the action depends, as the exigencies ofthe case may require.

The invention contemplates the provision of a cylinder of suitablematerial, such as a plastic that can be readily molded, and whichhardens sufficiently to form a substantial support for the parts of thefuse within the cylinder, the fuse proper comprising a body containing abooster charge substantially in contact with the primer charge which inthe present embodiment is ignited by a catalyst under the influence ofor excited by a vapor that heats the catalyst to the ignition point, andsimple means for locking the movable part of the fuse against movementin ordinary handling, the fuse as a whole being adapted to be insertedin the nose of a projectile of the point detonation type.

In the drawing illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of the fuse, the parts being innormal position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

On the drawing I designates a hollow body in the form of a cylinder,which as stated is preferably made of plastic material readily molded,and which becomes hard enough for supporting in a substantial manner,the parts contained in it. The cylinder is preferably formed in twolateral halves strongly sealed together. Each half of the cylinder hasan annular guide shoulder 2 near one end and a similar shoulder 3, aboutmidway of its length. These shoulders, as intimated, serve as guides fora cylindrical carriage 4, convenient- 1y made of a plastic moldablematerial, which cylinder contains the booster charge 5. The open end ofthe inner carriage is threaded to receive the threaded portion of aconical head 6, having a chamber 1 to receive the primer charge 8. Thehead 6 has a duct 9, communicating with the chamber 8, and the head hasa comparatively sharp point 6 that serves as a punch to perforate thethin closure H), of a light steel cylindrical receptacle II, closed atits lower end by a flanged disk l2 having therein an aperture I2 for theintroduction of air which is compressed in the cylinder to the desiredextent, after which the cylinder is sealed.

The numeral l3, indicates a ring of fibrous absorbent material which issaturated with a chemical, such for instance as methanol to combine withthe compressed air in the cylinder, to at the proper time, serve as theexcitant of a suitable catalyst l3 such as platinum black or othersuitable substance contained in the apex of the chamber 1, in immediatecontact or substantially so with the primer charge therein.

The carriage 4 has an annular shoulder M, between which and the shoulder2 of the outer cylinder is interposed a coil spring l5. The shoulder l4,on the inner cylinder is recessed for the reception of the upper freeend of a leaf spring [6, whose lower end is secured in a recess in theshoulder 3 of the outer cylinder, the spring serving as a safety devicereleased upon the firing of the projectile in which the fuse iscontained, to permit the booster charge cylinder 4 to move forward uponimpact of the projectile to establish communication between the catalystl3 in the primer chamber 8 and the air-methanol cylinder II. Thiscommunication is established through the duct 9, when the punch orpointed end 6' of the head 5. punctures the receptacle ii.

The purpose of the spring i5 is to mildly urge the inner cylindernormally forward to keep the safety spring IS in its recess in theshoulder I4 until the projectile is fired.

The operation of the fuse which is, as stated, carried in the nose of apoint detonated shell, has probably been sufiiciently outlined in theforegoing nevertheless it can be briefly stated that the completelyequipped fuse has a booster charge in the comparatively easily frangiblecarriage 4, which charge is preferably separated from the primer chargeby a membrane-like disk 8'. When the projectile is fired the set-backmoves the carriage 4 backward against the pressure of the spring 15sufiiciently to release the safety spring l6, whose free end springsback against the wall of the outer cylinder, where it ignition of theprimer charge, which in turn ignites the booster charge 5 to explode themain-' 7 charge in the shell.

I have described the heat producing substance I3 in the priming chargechamber as a catalyst and defined its excitant as a combination of airand methanol (wood alcohol) but I do not desire to confine myself tothis substance or to this gas. black I may use powdered antimony and forthe air-methanol I may substitute chlorine gas. In such a case theantimony would be conveniently protected by a suitable envelope to slowthe excitant effect of the chlorine gas, and make'the gas of a strengthsuitable for the purpose.

I claim:

1.'In a delayed action fuse, in combination, a hollow body, a chamberedcarriage supported and guided in said body, a booster charge in thecarr'iage chamber, an apertured punch carried by the carriage andprovided with a chamber in communication with the booster chargechamher, a priming charge in the punch chamber, a substance in thepriming charge chamber in contact with the priming charge and brought tcig- For instance instead of using platinumnition point by exposure to agas, a sealed gas containing receptacle in the hollow body adapted to bepunctured by the punch upon the forward movement of the carriage to makethe gas therein available to the ignition substance in the primingchamber. through the aperture in the punch to ignite the priming charge,and means for normally preventing forward movement of the carriage.

2. The invention according to claim 1, charaoterized in that the meansfor normally preventing forward movement of the carriage comprises ashoulder on the carriage, a leaf spring secured to the hollow body andhaving its free end in ena ement with .the shoulder, so that upon theinitial backward movement of the carriage the spring is released andsprings out of alignment with the shoulder.

'3. In ,a delayed action fuse, in combination, a hollow body, achambered carriage supported and guided in said body, a booster chargein the-car riage chamber, an aperture'dpunch carried lay-the carriageand provided with a chamber in communication with the booster chargechamber, a priming charge in the punch cha-mber, a substance in theprimingcharge chamber in contactwith the priming charge and brought toignition point by exposure to a gas, and a sealedgas con-- tainingreceptacle in the hollow body adapted to be punctured by the punch uponthe forward movement of the carriage to make the gas therein availableto the ignition substance in the priming chamber through the aperture inthe punch to ignite the priming charge.

CHARLES G.GIBBONS.

